An 'Outstanding Citizen'

June 10, 2002|By Michael Jones

Last September, while on her way to work in Gaylord, Turppa, 24, was driving on an isolated stretch of Johnson Road in Bagley Township when she encountered a terrifying sight - a young female jogger was struggling in the road with a man who was attempting to drag her into a wooded area alongside the road.

"It never entered my mind to keep going," commented Turppa as she recounted the next few minutes which took place in the gathering dusk of that September evening. "The look on her face was of terror. At first I thought it might be a boyfriend/girlfriend thing, but when I got a look at her I knew she was in trouble."

Turppa stopped her car, startling the assailant, which gave the young woman the opportunity to break free from her attacker. "As soon as I stopped she ran to my car and got in and he took off running."

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The attacker began to run down the road to his pickup truck which Turppa said gave her and the victim time to record the truck's license number as he drove away. Turppa drove the victim to her home nearby, where the police were contacted.

Thanks to the help Turppa extended to another, she prevented what likely would have resulted in the abduction of the young jogger. With her presence of mind to record the perpetrator's license number, the police were able to arrest the suspect several hours later at a motel in the Upper Peninsula.

The assailant in the attempted abduction, Gary Harper Wilson, from Grand Blanc, pled no contest to attempted kidnapping and received a sentence of 9 months jail time.

A letter Turppa received from Col. Michael D. Robinson, director of the Department of State Police, with her award, cites in part, her quick action in the face of danger. "If you had not stopped and helped, it is quite possible that the suspect would have succeeded in abducting the victim and may never have been arrested."

When asked if she ever found herself in the same situation again how she would react, Turppa said, without hesitation, "In a heartbeat, I would do it again."

It wasn't until later in the evening at the Gaylord Econo Lodge where she worked, Turppa said it had finally sunk in exactly what had happened. "I got real scared at work. I was by myself on my shift and I just got really scared when I realized what I had done and what could have happened. To this day I can't believe I did it."

Lt. Davis had nothing but praise for Turppa's heroic action last year. "It was all anyone here at the post could talk about for the next few days. There is no telling what would have happened if Jamie hadn't stopped and helped. She really is a hero."